We just did our annual Little Fingers recital for young beginners and it was a big success! It’s an event I’ve always loved and I’ve run it personally every year—except 2021—since I began teaching piano way back when. It’s so gratifying seeing students venture into their first recital, coming in wary and nervous, loosening up a little with the games and ice breakers, and then pushing through to do their first performance. They end up so proud of themselves they literally skip back out the door! I never tire of seeing the transformation.
This year we did it a little differently. Rather than hold the pre-recital workshop in the classroom the week prior, as we’ve usually done, we did it right in the performance space of the church immediately before the recital. While parents and guests waited outside, the children roamed through the church, explored its nooks and crannies, looked into the the grand piano and watched its hammers hit the strings. They tried out the mic and played the piano and practiced being an enthusiastic audience by clapping and shouting their approval for each warm up piece. We played games and laughed. By the time the grownups came in the students were relaxed and comfortable, and performed their pieces like they’d been doing it all their lives!